Hey there! For those of you who haven't had the chance to meet me yet, my name is Tara, and I've been working as the horticulturist at your community greenhouse since February. Together with the community volunteers, we've been putting in the hours to get everything ready for the upcoming growing season. Despite today's weather, trust me, spring is just around the corner! And I'm thrilled to announce that we'll be providing weekly updates on the greenhouse's status and the exciting activities planned for the future.
Every Wednesday, I host a Horticultural Hangout from 5 to 7 PM at the greenhouse, and I'd love to see you there! It's an opportunity for everyone to roll up their sleeves and get involved in some hands-on tasks, like watering, transplanting, and planting seeds. Whether you're a gardening enthusiast or just want to connect with the community, feel free to drop by and ask any questions you may have related to gardening or landscaping.
This past week's Horticultural Hangout saw a fantastic turnout, with plenty of eager helpers pitching in. Our main focus was transplanting seedlings into larger pots, including eggplants, bell peppers, and cucumbers. With some space freed up in the seedling trays, we also took the opportunity to sow some herbs, such as parsley, dill, chives (both garlic and regular), as well as peas and beans.
The plants we've moved into the back room will remain in their pots until it's time to either transfer them outdoors or plant them into their permanent spots within the greenhouse. In Calgary, the general rule of thumb is to wait until after the May long weekend (May 20th) to plant permanent greenery outside, ensuring they don't risk frost damage.
For our dedicated watering volunteers, keep an eye out for new watering instructions posted this week as we fine-tune our watering regimen. With warmer weather hopefully on the horizon, we anticipate that the large water tank outside will soon be up and running. Once that's sorted, we'll be able to rely more on greenhouse irrigation, lessening the need for volunteer watering.
During the next Horticultural Hangout, I'll be in the greenhouse tending to our green friends. Everyone is welcome to swing by! I'll be busy fertilizing the transplanted plants, checking on the seedlings' progress, and transplanting any specimens that have outgrown their current pots. Plus, stay tuned for details on a special event happening during the hangout.
I'm genuinely excited to meet each and every one of you! Let's make this growing season one to remember.
Tara Berglund
B.Sc.
ISA Certified Arborist PR-5613A
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